WW #117: Building Confidence on the Beach

We’re blessed to be spending time in Barcelona again this summer. Here are some of the wild flowers that decorate our little street.One of the many benefits of traveling is getting outside of your comfort zone, which is great for kids. Mine (many of whom shy away from trying new foods) ended up adoring this rich cake prepared for the national holiday of San Juan. The candied fruit scared them off at first, but they were won over.Watermelon and pineapple are among the local delicacies.At the end of our second week, we met up with some good pals from back home. As the mamas shared a glass (or two) of wine at a beach restaurant, the boys played for hours in the sand, just being kids.

As moms, we focus on building our children’s confidence, their social and emotional development ranking among our most important priorities. What could be better for this social development than encountering new contexts, new situations. Travel is a great way to achieve this, but you don’t have to travel with your kids to make this come to life. Rather, you just need to think about introducing new challenging experiences. Maybe you send your kiddos with their friends to a local farm they’ve never visited; maybe you take a road trip to a new town; perhaps you go to the grocery store with a new, ambitious recipe in hand, buy some unknown ingredients, and head home together to give it a shot. Whatever it is, find a way to encourage your kids to try new things and wiggle outside of their comfort zone. This will arm them for the inevitable challenges life will bring.

In New York City, we mamas watch our children like hawks. Many only begin to venture out on their own at the age of 11 or 12. Sidewalks are our backyard. How special to be able to run free on the beach under the stars with the lights of an unknown city sparkling in the background. Covered with sand, our boys made their way back to the dinner table, glowing with pride.Thanks for reading and check back in next week for more from Spain.

Melissa

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I’d love to visit Barcelona! My dad grew up there. He’s originally from a small town in the province of Leon, Spain, but moved to Barcelona as a child and stayed there until age 15. He has very fond memories of it.

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